Smarty Scoop is proudly sponsored by Discovery Place, Discovery Place KIDS – Huntersville and The Charlotte Nature Museum.
This December celebrate the magical sights and sounds of the holidays at Charlotte Ballet’s Nutcracker. Create a memorable holiday tradition when you bring your family and friends along for this holiday voyage featuring choreography by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, live music from the Charlotte Symphony, over 100 dancers and a breathtaking snowfall. Be there as the Nutcracker Prince triumphs over the evil Mouse King and as the Sugar Plum Fairy entertains Clara, her Nutcracker Prince and the audience with dazzling dancing sweets. Buy your tickets NOW!
Body Worlds and the Cycle of Life
Discovery Place
301 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-6261
November 21 – January 31, See website for schedule, All ages, $20-$24, does not include museum admission.
See the human body in all its stages across the arc of aging and in all its conditions in this all-new exhibition. Featuring more than 100 real human specimens preserved through the process of plastination, discover the complexity, vulnerability and resiliency of the human body.
Discovery Place
301 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Step into a world where science is brought to life through interactive exhibits and explosive experiments during daily programs. Connect with the past and visit the future with groundbreaking exhibitions, larger-than-life IMAX Dome films and hands on activities that let you explore more. Plan your visit today. Click on the links below for detailed information on special events, featured exhibitions, featured shows and IMAX.
Featured Exhibitions: For information on all exhibitions click here.
Featured Shows: For information on all featured shows click here.
IMAX: For information on all featured movies and showtimes click here.
Discovery Place Kids – Huntersville
105 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Explore the theme of I CAN at Discovery Place KIDS-Huntersville. The children’s museum features developmentally-appropriate experiences that encourage imagination and offer the opportunity to build confidence while testing skills by trying new things. The exhibits, themed around a small town, allow children to learn through play.
Theme Areas: For a complete description of all nine theme areas click here.
Featured Shows: For a complete listing of all featured shows click here.
Current and Upcoming Events: For all current and upcoming events click here.
Charlotte Nature Museum
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-6261
Summary: Bring little ones for just an hour or the whole day and experience wildlife through live animal exhibits and interactive education programs. The Museum is easy to navigate with fun surprises around every corner. Kids can roam The Great Hall and visit Beginnings, an area filled with young animals and information on their lifecycles.
Featured Exhibitions: For complete details on exhibitions and exhibits click here.
Featured Shows: For a complete schedule of show times click here.
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC (704) 875-6521
Summary: Carolina Raptor Center is dedicated to environmental stewardship and the conservation of birds of prey through education, research, and the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. As a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, CRC relies on public financial support to fulfill our mission. Supporters can release a raptor, adopt a bird, make a charitable donation, purchase a membership or sponsor a capital improvement project. CRC’s environmental education programs reach approximately 40,000 students each year. Our Raptor Trail hosts more than 35,000 visitors a year. Visit our calendar page for event times or just come and enjoy our nicely maintained trails and see all the amazing birds of prey.
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway
5555 Concord Parkway S., Concord, NC
November 21-December 30, See website for schedule, All ages, $25 per vehicle
More than three million lights and the chance to drive the track. The infield Christmas Village, includes movie nights on the speedway’s 16,000-square-foot HDTV, photos with Santa, a bustling Bethlehem village, petting zoo and more.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History
1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC (704) 866-6900
The natural wonders of North America and North Carolina coupled with the rich history of our region are all reflected in The Schiele’s exceptional exhibitions and diverse programming. Whether you’re indoors or out, with the kids or your colleagues, by bringing you a lot closer to nature, The Schiele will bring you a little closer to yourself.
Featured Exhibits: For a complete listing click here
Planetarium: For a complete schedule click here
Events Calendar: For all events click here
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Holiday at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC (704) 825-4490
November 20 – January 3, See website for schedule, $8.95 and up
Summary: Winter glistens as dazzling lights dance throughout the garden this holiday season. Holidays at the Garden, a must-see family, decade-old tradition for thousands of all ages, is a magical time of year when the trees twinkle, the fountains sparkle, and botanical-themed displays glisten among the natural beauty of the winter Garden.
Charlotte International Auto Show – Family Day
Charlotte Convention Center
501 S. College Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 339-6040
November 19-22, See website for times, All ages, $10, children 12 and under free
Summary:Hundreds of vehicles…nearly 6 football fields in display area! Experience the latest in automotive technology Take a Ride and Drive in one of the vehicles!
Miracle on Piedmont Row Drive: A Tree Lighting Celebration
Piedmont Town Center
4725 Piedmont Row Drive, Charlotte, NC
November 20, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: Tree lighting, train and carriage rides, face painting, visit with Santa, balloon art, hot chocolate and more!
Southern Christmas Show
The Park Expo and Conference Center
2500 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC (800) 849-0248
November 11-22, See website for details, All ages, $3-$12
Summary: The Southern Christmas Show is the largest and most popular holiday show in the country.
Foodtruck Friday
Southend
1613 Camden Road Charlotte, NC
Every Friday, 5:00pm – 9:00pm, All ages, Free
Summary: Every Friday night, Charlotte’s favorite food trucks gather on the lot at the corner of Park and Camden in the Historic South End. These aren’t the roach coaches of yesteryear! The nationwide revolution of the food truck industry has hit Charlotte, and we’ve got an ever-growing community of trucks that cater to your every taste. From burgers to tacos to soul food to cupcakes to ice cream and everything in between…there’s something for everyone. We’re family and dog-friendly, too! So bring a chair, bring a blanket, BYOB, bring the kids, take the dog…it’s a neighborhood night out in a relaxed, casual atmosphere.
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
located @ Imaginon
300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 973-2800
To see the complete 2014-2015 schedule, special pricing and ways to save click here
Summary: Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s home is ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, an amazing collaborative venture between the Theatre and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. It’s an amazing place for families – a really cool children’s library, plus two incredible theatre spaces for our productions, classrooms, computer labs, a Teen Loft and a lot more.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Holiday at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC (704) 825-4490
November 20 – January 3, See website for schedule, $8.95 and up
Summary: Winter glistens as dazzling lights dance throughout the garden this holiday season. Holidays at the Garden, a must-see family, decade-old tradition for thousands of all ages, is a magical time of year when the trees twinkle, the fountains sparkle, and botanical-themed displays glisten among the natural beauty of the winter Garden.
Charlotte International Auto Show – Family Day
Charlotte Convention Center
501 S. College Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 339-6040
November 19-22, See website for times, All ages, $10, children 12 and under free
Summary:Hundreds of vehicles…nearly 6 football fields in display area! Experience the latest in automotive technology Take a Ride and Drive in one of the vehicles!
Southern Christmas Show
The Park Expo and Conference Center
2500 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC (800) 849-0248
November 11-22, See website for details, All ages, $3-$12
Summary: The Southern Christmas Show is the largest and most popular holiday show in the country.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
16445 Poplar Tent Road, Charlotte, NC (704) 896-5544
October 3 – November 22, See website for schedule and prices, All ages
Summary: The Carolina event has grown to be one of the largest of the Renaissance fairs nationwide. Tree lined lanes are filled with over 100 purveyors of crafts and food, and non-stop music and comedy shows are presented on 12 stages every event day.
Blumenthal Performing Arts
130 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 372-1000
To see the 2015 schedule click here
Summary: You can get all the best of the performing arts without buying a plane ticket to the Big Apple! Blumenthal Performing Arts is your source for all the best performing arts events in Charlotte and the Carolinas.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Holiday at the Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC (704) 825-4490
November 20 – January 3, See website for schedule, $8.95 and up
Summary: Winter glistens as dazzling lights dance throughout the garden this holiday season. Holidays at the Garden, a must-see family, decade-old tradition for thousands of all ages, is a magical time of year when the trees twinkle, the fountains sparkle, and botanical-themed displays glisten among the natural beauty of the winter Garden.
Charlotte International Auto Show – Family Day
Charlotte Convention Center
501 S. College Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 339-6040
November 19-22, See website for times, All ages, $10, children 12 and under free
Summary:Hundreds of vehicles…nearly 6 football fields in display area! Experience the latest in automotive technology Take a Ride and Drive in one of the vehicles!
Southern Christmas Show
The Park Expo and Conference Center
2500 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC (800) 849-0248
November 11-22, See website for details, All ages, $3-$12
Summary: The Southern Christmas Show is the largest and most popular holiday show in the country.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
16445 Poplar Tent Road, Charlotte, NC (704) 896-5544
October 3 – November 22, See website for schedule and prices, All ages
Summary: The Carolina event has grown to be one of the largest of the Renaissance fairs nationwide. Tree lined lanes are filled with over 100 purveyors of crafts and food, and non-stop music and comedy shows are presented on 12 stages every event day.
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
located @ Imaginon
300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC (704) 973-2800
To see the complete 2014-2015 schedule, special pricing and ways to save click here
Summary: Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s home is ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, an amazing collaborative venture between the Theatre and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. It’s an amazing place for families – a really cool children’s library, plus two incredible theatre spaces for our productions, classrooms, computer labs, a Teen Loft and a lot more.
